Seed planter having magnetic seed selecting means



P. VOGELSANG SEED PLANTER HAVING MAGNETIC SEED SELECTING MEANS 5Sheets-Sheet l By HEL PS V04 sun/v A ril 20, 1954 Filed Aug. 28, 1948April 20, 1 P. VOGELSANG SEED PLANTER HAVING MAGNETIC SEED SELECTINGMEANS -5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 9 8

. A A A A A L u L PHELPS Voaas'H v April 1954 P. VOGELSANG 2,675,942

SEED PLANTER HAVING MAGNETIC SEED SELECTING MEANS Filed Aug. 28, 1948 5Sheets-Sheet 3 fig 28 42 4| 40 lnventor PHELPS VOGELSHNG April 20, 1954VQGELSANG 2,675,942

SEED PLANTER HAVING MAGNETIC SEED SELECTING MEANS Filed Aug. 28, 1948 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Snventor PHELPS Vase-1.5mm

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 SEED PLANTER HAVING MAGNETIC SEED SELECTING MEANSPhelps Vogelsang, Midland, Mich, assignor to Processed Seeds Inc.,Midland, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 28, 1948,Serial No. 46,673

9 Claims.

This invention relates to seed planters and more particularly to a seedplanter designed to utilize magnetic means for selecting seeds coatedwith a paramagnetic material and to deposit each of them a constant,predetermined distance apart in a prepared seed bed.

Heretofore many means for planting seeds at a predetermined spacing havebeen used but each of them has failed to provide a satisfactory spacingespecially when use of the higher speeds available in modern tractorsand farm machinery is attempted. These previously existing means haveincluded mechanical fingers designed to grip each individual seed, meansemploying a vacuum to hold the seed and specially shaped and sizedpockets to transport the seed. Some of these methods are capable of afair degree of accuracy but only at slow speeds. In addition, the moreaccurate of the previously existing devices are complicated'andexpensive and all are difiicult designs in which to'modify the spacing.

The real economy to be obtained from me- 1 chanical planting is thequick even spacing of the individual seeds. Unless this is accomplishedthinning and partial reseeding is necessary, involving such expense inhand labor and reworking as to often. nullify the economy of themechanical seeding operation. This particular problem of subsequentreseeding and thinning has, until my invention, greatly retarded thegrowing of important crops such asonicns, to matoes and sugar beets; Itis also frequently important that an entire crop be planted within theshortest possible period or time. This can be done only by two means,increasing the speedof. existing planting facilities or increasing thequantity of facilities available. The use of increased speed is by farthe most economical but heretofore it has been impractical due to thedisproportionate increase in the percentage of inaccurate seeding.

A further disadvantage of many of the existing planter designs is thatthey are so large as to necessitate a They are not suitable forattachment to and suport by a tractor or powered garden cultivator. Inthe case of planters employing a vacuum, additional complicatedequipment in the form of a vacuum and pressure pump is required. ,All ofthis is eliminated by my invention since it is small enough to be easilyattached to the standard tractor, standard type drill .oji' cultivatorchassis or small garden cultiva on equipment and requires no speciaI oerating machinery.

additional improvement in my .DIahteriS.

separate Supporting carriage.

that its design permits the actual planting op--- eration to be observedat all times since the rotor releases the seeds at a substantialdistance above the ground and no guide tube or other enclosure is usedbetween this point of release and the ground. This arrangement enablesthe operator to constantly check on the planter to see whether or not itis actually planting as desired. Existing designs enclose thisoperation, preventing such observation.

The use of a magnetic seed planter is particularly desirable when theseeds have been pelleted. The use of magnets greatly reduces abrasionand the paramagnetic coating for the seed can be incorporated with thematerials making up a portion of the shell of the pellet. The added costof pelleted seeds can be largely overcome by the elimination of waste inplanting.

By using a planter employing a number of magnets on a rotating wheel Ihave eliminated these difliculties since my planter always picks up aseed, even at high speeds, and assures that only one seed will beselected and dropped at each planting space. Furthermore, it alwaysdrops the seed at the same spacing and cannot skip several spaces thendeposit a number of seeds in one space. Although my planter is capableof accuracy at high speeds, this has not been accomplished at thesacrifice of accuracy in the lower speed ranges. The construction of myplanter assures maintenance of precise spacing at both high and lowspeeds giving the machine capacity for a wide range of operatingconditions.

It is, therefore, a primary object of my invention to provide a seedplanter capable of maintaining a high degree of accurac'y'whetheroperated at high, low or intermediate speeds.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a seed planter inwhich the spacing may be changed by a few quick and simple operations.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide a seed planteradapted to select and plant seeds within a wide range of sizes withoutnecessitating modification of the seed selector.

It is a further additional object of my invention to provide a seedplanter which is simple in construction, easy to maintain and economicalto manufacture.

Other objects and purposes of my invention will be apparent to thoseacquainted with the design and construction of agricultural -equip--ment upon reading the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my seed planter.

Figure 2 is a top view of my seed planter.

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the rotor of my seed planter.

Figure 4 is an elevational sectional view of the rotor of my inventiontaken along the plane IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary oblique view of the rotor and seed ejector ofmy seed planter.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of the bottom of my seedcontainer taken along the plane VIVI of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the seed ejector for myinvention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged end View of a retainer for the magnet of myinvention.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional. view of the plug for my invention.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a modiiication of the rotor ofmy invention adapted for utilizing a temporarily energized magnet.

Figure 11 is a sectional View of the modified rotor taken along theplane XL-XE of Figure 10 and fragmentally shows the assembled positionof the rotor.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary top view of the modified rotor taken alongthe plane XIT KII of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is an exploded detail view of magnet for my modified rotor.

Figure 1a is an enlarged oblique view of the support for the circuitcontrol element of my modified rotor.

Figure 15 is an enlarged oblique view of the circuit control element ofmy modified rotor.

Figure 16 is an enlarged exploded view of my modified rotor with themagnets removed.

In designing a seed planter capable of executing the objects andpurposes of my invention I have provided a seed box operativelycommunieating with a disk shaped rotor having spaced magnetic inserts.The magnets, as they pass through the seed container each select a seedand remove it from the container. The seed is carried by the rotor untildropped into the seed bed. The rotor is caused to rotate oppositely tothe direction of travel of the planter and at the same rate of speed,permitting the seeds to drop therefrom without either forward or back--ward momentum.

In the following description the terms up and down are freely used andare to be taken as down towards the seed bed and up away therefrom whenthe planter is in its normal position as shown in figure l. The termsforwardly and rearwardly are also freely used and to be taken as forwardin the direction of travei of the planter when in use as indicated bythe arrow in Figure 1 and rearward away therefrom. The terms inwardlyand outwardly are likewise freely used with respect to the rotor and areto be taken to mean inwardly toward the axis of the rotor and outwardlytowards the rotcrs periphery.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral i indicates ahousing consisting of two side members 2 and 3. Each of the side membersconsists of a cover portion f, a vertical arm 5 and an inclined arm 6.The inclined arms 5 of each of the side members 2 and are offset towardseach other to form a single rigid supporting arm extending forwardly ofthe housing. A number of attachment holes 58 and 553 are provided in theinclined arms 6 and the vertical arm 5 respec tively (Figure 1) topermit adjustment of the the planter unit to the points of attachmentavailable on various types of equipment. Each of the side members 2 and3 may be formed from a single sheet of material by some suitable methodsuch as stamping or each may be an assembly of several parts joined byriveting or welding.

The rearward end of the housing i is open and receives between the sidemembers 2 and 3 a bulk seed container '5. The forward end of the seedcontainer i is narrowed to form funnel suitable for seating within theopen rear end of the housing. The width of the it it is such that it isno wider than the herein described rotor l3. The top of the seedcontainer is equipped with a lid 9 which opened to put seed into thecontainer. The tom of the seed container consists of a slidir panel itsupported by flanges ii and prov with a handle l2 (Figures 1 and 6). Tipanel H3 slopes downwardly in a forward dir on, the purpose of whichwill appear more fully hereinafter.

Substantially at the geometrical center of the housing I a rotor I3 ismounted between side members 2 and 3 on the shaft i and s e. from theside 2 by means of the spacer c from the side 3 by means of the bossmember A pulley i! suitable for engaging a t -shaped belt or chain ismounted by means of a key on one end of the shaft exterior of thehousing 5 shaft is held in place by means of a nut it cotter pin [9 oneach end. The rotor 53 is shaped and contains a plurality of radiallytending, blind, cylindrical bores 2d (Figure and 4). These bores 2textend radially inwa from the periphery 2i of the rotor to substantiallymore than one-half the re the rotor and are positioned midway bet thesides of the rotor. The open end of be es it is counterbored at 22(Figures 3 and l) to pro-- vide an enlarged opening. At the periph therotor 13 and spaced midway between its c is a groove 23 extending aroundits entire circumference.

the rotor by means of the screws 2 and to shaft is by means of a key 25to insure rota of the rotor with the shaft.

Within each of the bores 2c is a rod shaped permanent magnet 26 (Figure4) seated at its radially inner end upon a spring 2 1. The spring 27extends between the end of the magnet 25 and the blind end 59 of thebore 28. A retainer 25 seats within the counterbore 22 and substantiallycloses the open end of the bore 20. The retainer 28 is cylindrical inshape except for a fiat seat 25 parallel to its axis on one side of thecylinder. The seat 29 does not extend to the outer face 36 of theretainer 28 (Figures 4 and 8) in order that the retainer, when seatedwithin the counterbore 22, will, except for the concentric opening and aportion of the slot 31 therein, entirely close the end of the bore 2%]and prevent the entrance dirt. A slot 3!, similar in every respect tothe groove 23 extends across the outer face 33 of the retainer 28parallel to the seat 25. A frustroconical shaped depression 32 islocated at the center of the retainer 28 and is of such size that at thebottom of the slot 3| the diameter of the depression corresponds to thewidth of the slot 3!. A central opening 33 similar in diameter to thebore 20 extends from the inner face of the retainer 28 outwardly to thebottom of the slot 3! creating a shoulder 34 (Figure 4). The retainer 28is held in place by the set screw 35 *whieh='hearszasainstthesseat:29.An a-mores (Figures-12am Li-is loeated attheibottemm the rotor 4.3 and#mounted to the housing by h stud .3! and associated :nuts 53:8. Theei-ector 13-6 is aspacedwirom each .0! '-'therside members 2 and .3 byspacers and is :so amounted-that it-"is free to rotate about the stud itis equipped with an arcuate :Iaoe L49 aconcavelyxourred on the sameradius as the bottom f the groove '23 :of :the I13 ifieurezft). "Theiorwardly'extendin lip-Al er the-eiectortb-G is -providedwith aroundedbut substantially bhmt leadingedge '42. Th width of the ejector 316 suchthat it will seat with-inthe groove :23'and willnetbind-as it slidesalong :thezgroove when-the rotor .413 is turned.

The magnets 25 are-spacedzaroundthe periph-- ry of :the'rotor at anyisuitablendistance dependins in .pa-rthpon he desired minimum -:spaci;ng:of the seeds and the space available'in a rotor a particular diameter...lhisminimum peripherial pacing may be 11 /2. 2 or '3 inches or more orany herniation of this as circumstances may require.

The magnet 26 is made from a material shit able for permanentmagnetization such as iron. The rotor 13, retainer 18, and ejector 36are made from :any .suitable non-magnetic material such as aluminum,brass or :rnagnesium. The seed container" 1., lid 19, and slidingpanelI0 may be made from a non-magnetic material "such as aluminum, brass,magnesium or plastic but the material need notnecessarily "beilimited tothose having non-magnetic characteristics.

V tachedito thet'housing I by means of themounts 4&3, pins-5.0 andsstudandnutassemblies "5|. The blades 48 are set at an angle to the directionof travel of'the planter such that they will urge the earthintozthe-"furrow after the seeds have been deposited. Arfnrrow opener is:used to make the furrow but :since itneed not ibe attached to theplanter and'formswnocpartiof this invention 'it is not'shown ordescribed. Theblades 48, 'liketh'e furrow opener, are not'tzan essentialpart of my invention'and may be eliminated without afiectingthe-iunct-ional principle of my device.

.The rotor 43 rotated by means "of abelt 52 or-a chain-engaging thepulley 1'1. The belt 52 may be driven by a 'separate'motor or a powertalreolf from the tractor which propels the planter. It may also bedriven by suitably connecting it to .the supporting wheels of the prop ig v hicle. The source of power .is not 7 h wn it may be any one of thepresently u d arran ements and ,forrnsno part of this invention. Theonly limitation on the power source'is that it"be coordinated in speedto the rate of movement of the planter along "the ianteralonathegraund;whedaeetionermtss tion is *lndicated by the eurved arrowtin'{Ei'guref-i.

This -is "notan absolute es'sential but it" is ery preferablearrangement. The amt-pose er .6 limitationmiflmmearimore rally in theIdesctintiompfthe-zoperationaei any invention. :Between the ejeotor and.the point where the rotor I3 enters the seed container 1 it isdesirable to mount-a brushii oFlgu-re 1 9 tooleandust and magnetizedforeign .particles'from the rotor once during reach rotation.

Assembly .Atter installation (of the motor assembly the seed containeris attached to the housing by means --of .bolts 'ilihespaoes between theinside smtiaoea-of :thesides 2 and 3 and the funnel 8 of the seedcontainer are closed by shims 5B (Figure 2) held inplaceiby the bolts53. The scraper ii is locked into :position with :the aperturel td inalignment with :the groove 2:3. 'When properly positioned, the end ofthe scraper 43 provides merely a running clearance between it and theperiphery 21 of rotor. The sliding panel it, in "fully insertedposition, provides a similar clearance with the periphery 2| of therot-or. Thisclearance must bezsuch that no seeds may pass between thesliding panel i-B and the rotor. In the case (of both the scraper t3 andthe sliding panel 1.]! itisessential -that this clearance be held to aminimum to prevent the passage "of seeds.

The :ej'e'ctor 36 is 'seatedwrith =itsarcuate face it within thegrooved? "Thespacers are placed on each side .of the ejector and thestud '3'! inserted through both the spacers and ejector 36. The nuts 33are tightened'on each end of the stud tocomplete "the installation ofthe ejector. The ejector 3B is -so positioned that the lip t1 extendsforwardly" into the direction of rotation .ofthe-rotor l-3 and itsleading edge 42 is slightly forward of 'avertical plane passing throughthe center of theshait J4. The cover blades '48 are infialledomeach sideof the housing by seating the :mount- 19 for each cover blade over a.pin 56 and stud 51 and tightehingithe nuts.

The-brush 51 is installed within the housing in firm contact with theperiphery 2| of the rotor. Bolts 61 adjacent the offset in the inclihedarms '6 clamp the arms together into a single rigid member, completingthe assembly of the planter.

The planter'is mountedto a carrying vehicle such as .a tractor "byattaching the ends ofthe vertical :armst and the inclined armfitosuitable points; .at the-rear of thetractor. in a position suchthat-the rotor l3 isspaced upwardly from the :earth a substantialdistance. The planter is thus entirely :supportedby the carrying ye--hicla Thesize and simplicity of this planter enables itto beattaehedrto small agricultural equi-ornentgtsuch as a :twri wheel:aarden tractor I or cultivator. The :belt 552 is connected to powersource and with-thishperation the planter ready for use. If desirable,it is-also possible to mount the planter upon its own carriage andmerely tow it by means of the propelling vehicle.

Operation To operate my planter the seed container '3 is filled withseeds or seed pellets coated with a paramagnetic material through theopening normally covered by the lid 9. The forwardly sloping slidingpanel 10 urges the seeds toward the rotor l3 and insures continuousplanting of the seeds until the entire supply is exhausted. By makingthe panel l removable, surplus seeds may be easily and quickly removedby withdrawing the panel and dropping the seeds into a container placedimmediately below, As the rotor i3 is turned by the belt 52 in adirection such that it passes upwardly in the area exposed to the funnel8, each of the magnets 25 attracts and retains a seed in the associateddepression 32. If more than one seed is retained by the magnet, theseexcess seeds are removed by the scraper t3 and drop back into the funnel3. The magnets 26 are only exposed to the seeds at the base of thedepression 32 thus this will be the only area in which the rotor willattract and hold a seed. The use of non-magnetic materials for theremaining parts of the rotor 53 assures lii itation of themagnetic'fields to the magnet areas. The frusto-conical shape of thedepres sion. 32 centers the seed assuring its through the scraper 43 andits removal by the ejector 35.

The rotor l3, after picking up each seed, carries it over the top of therotor and down forward side until the ejector 35 is reached. The leadingedge 42 of the ejector as contacts the seed and dislodges it from themagnet so that it drops freely into the furrow. The use of the ejectornot only provides a simple method which the seed may be dislodged fromthe magnet but insures the dropping of each seed at exactly the samepoint on the rotor. By rotating rotor in a direction opposite to thedirection of travel of the planter the seed is dropped with zeromomentum, permitting it to fall in a straight line into the furrow. Thisassures accurate spacing of the seeds even when the planter is movedforwardly at relatively high speeds. There no tendency of the seeds tocurve forwardly ng their fall thereby eliminating the tendency the seedsto bunch due to differently curved aths of fall. Since the combinationof the permit only one seed to be carried by each nagnet, bunching ofseeds in the furrow due to the deposit of several seeds at a time iseliminated.

The upward rotation of the rotor 53 in the area exposed to the seeds inthe funnel 3 greatly lessens damage due to abrasion since the seeds areurged upwardly where they are free to move away from the rotor ratherthan downwardly where they are compressed tightly against each other.The seeds, after deposit in the furrow, are covered with earth by thecover blades as which urge the earth back into the furrow.

The speed of the rotor is at all times regulated by the speed of forwardmotion of theplanter. The movement of the periphery of the rotor isequal to the lineal forward motion of the planter. Thus, a two inchspacing between the magnets 26 -at the periphery of the rotor it willcause the seeds to be deposited at a twoinch spacing in the furrow. Thisrelationship, however, may be varied by changing the diameter of thepulley l1 thus efiecting a larger or smaller spacing in the furrow. Bythis is meant that a specific movement of the rotor could be coupledwith a greater relative movement of the ground to provide a spacingequal to the length of ground covered. This procedure may be reversed toproduce a spacing in the furrow less than the distance between themagnets on the rotor.

The spacing of the seeds may be varied in multiples of the peripheralspacing of the ma nets 25 by inactivating certain of the magnets. Thisis accomplished by removing the retainer 253 and substituting a plug 54.The plug 5 1 is similar to the retainer 28 except that it has no coneshaped recessed face and the opening (Figure 9) does not penetrate asdeeply as the counter-bore leaving a wall of metal of substantialthickness between the end of the magnet and the bottom of the slot 3!.The slot at must be provided in the plug aligned with the groove 23 topermit operation of the ejector The plug is held in place by the setscrew 35. As many plugs are used as magnets it is desired to inactivate.

Modification A modification of my invention using magnets which are onlyperiodically energized, is shown in Figures 10 through 16. In themodified for; the housing I remains the same except that the spacingbetween the side members 2 and ii is increased to accommodate the widerrotor.

The modified rotor Hill consists of a thici: disk itii and a thin diskIE2 separated by a pair of identical center units Hi3 (Figures 16 and16). The thin disk It?! has a large central opening its to permit it tofit over the electrical equipment associated with the housing andsurrounding the mounting shaft. The disks it! and 9&2 are both made froma suitable electrically conductive nonmagnetic material such as brass,aluminum or magnesium. The thin disi: E t2 need not be made from anelectrically conductive material but must have suificient strength topartially support the rotor. The center units 193 are each substantiallydisk-shaped having a diameter equal to that of the disks Ill! and H32but having a central opening equal in size to the opening iii-t in thethin disk M2. The center units l are formed from an electricallynon-conduct material such as hard rubber or a plastic. Each center unitHi3 has a number of radially extending, semi-circular pockets 265(Figure 16) therein. The number of these pockets determined by thenumber of magnets with which the rotor 10!) is to be equipped and inturn is determined partially by the diameter of th rotor and partiallyby the minimum peripheral spacing desired. Each of the pockets arepartially enclosed on theirouter end by a wall 5% and on their inner endby a wall. lili. When the center units 33 are placed together the pool;-ets it in each of the units align to form a lindrical compartment Hi8partially closed on each of its ends by the walls i865 and A sir cularopening W9 concentric with the compart- Inent m8 extends through thewall ill? on the inner end and an opening H9 extends t rough the wallififi on the outer end. The open i -is frustro-conical in shape havingdiameter at the point of tangency with the compartment H38. A groove Illequi-distant be veen the disks I6! and l e2 extends around theperiphlien 75. ,.ery of the rotor and is formed in the center unitsloses contact with the circuit control element H9 and the electricalcirciut is broken, inactivating that particular magnet H2. The circuitis again completed when the contact element 523 is rotated to a point incontact with the inclined defining Wall Hi l of the notch i322. In thismanner the magnets H2 are alternately activated and inactivated. Withthe notch I32 positioned as heretofore described, each magnet H2 isenergized as it enters the seed container l and remains energized untilit is almost directly below the shaft i323 where the opening of thecircuit causes the seed held by the magnet to be dropped. The length ofthe notch is such that the magnet is inoperative between the point whereseed is dropped and where that same magnet enters the seed container 7.This interval of inoperativeness may be shortened, however, it must be asufiicient interval of inoperativeness as will positively permit theseed to drop from the rotor and not be deflected in its path of fall bya re imposed magnetic field. An ejector 3 5 may or may not be used atthis point. It is not essential as in the case of the permanent magnet.If the ejector is not used, the groove 23 may be elin inated since itwill then serve no purpose.

When it is desired to render one or more of the magnets inoperative,this may be simply accomplished by removing the set screw i-i lassociated with each of the particular magnets to be immobilized. Byremoval of the set screw, the electrical circuit for that particularmagnet is broken. The magnet H2 will be held in radial position withoutthe set screw l l l by the spring M2 and is at all times held againstlateral movement by the ring ill and the inner insulating member H5.

Various other modifications in the construction and design of thespecific apparatus as here in described and illustrated will immediatelysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art but it is to beunderstood that the invention is to be limited only by the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In means for individually depositing seeds having paramagneticcharacteristics at predetermined equally spaced intervals, including aseed planter and means for moving seed planter, the improvement in saidseed planter comprising: a seed container; a plurality of individualmagnets; means partially within said seed container for supporting saidmagnets in. equally spaced association with each other and successivelyin operative association with said seed container; a source of motionfor moving said magnets relative to said seed container whereby each ofsaid magnets selects and removes one seed from said container; means forindividually disassociating said seeds from each of said magnets.

2. In means for individually depositing seeds at predetermined, equallyspaced intervals, including a seed planter, means for attaching saidseed planter to a vehicle and a source of rotary motion for saidplanter, the improveme it in said seed planter comprising: a seedcontainer; a rotor positioned partially within said seed container; aplurality of circumferentially equally spaced magnets mounted on saidrotor; means for rotating said rotor whereby each or" said magnetsselects and removes one seed from said container upon passingtherethrough; means for individually disassociating said seeds from eachof said magnets.

3. In means for individually depositing seeds at predetermined equallyspaced intervals, the improvement in said means comprising: a seedcontainer; a rotor positioned partially within said seed container; aplurality of circumferentially equally spaced magnets mounted withinsaid rotor; a groove extending around the pe riphery of said rotor and aplurality oi depressions having a common centerline with said groove andeach co-axially aligned with one of said magnets; means for rotatingsaid rotor whereby each of said magnets selects and removes from saidcontainer one seed upon passing through said container; means seatedwithin said groove and adapted to slide therein relative to said rotorfor individually disassociating said seeds from said magnets.

4. In means for individually depositing seeds at predetermined equallyspaced intervals, the improvement in said means comprising: a seedcontainer; a rotor positioned partially within said seed container; aplurality of circumferentially equally spaced magnets mounted withinsaid rotor; a groove extending around the periphery of said rotor and aplurality of depressions having a common centerline with groove and eachco-axially aligned with one of said magnets; means for rotating saidrotor whereby each of said magnets selects and removes from saidcontainer one seed upon passing through said container; means forremoving and returning to said seed container by gravity all seedsselected by each magnet in excess of one; means seated Within saidgroove and adapted to slide therein relative to said rotor forindividually disassociating said seeds from said magnets.

5. In means for individually depositing seeds having paramagneticcharacteristics at predetermined equally spaced intervals, including aseed planter and means for moving said seed planter, the improvement insaid seed planter comprising: a housing; a seed container having aiorwardly inclined bottom; a disc-shaped rotor extending partially intosaid seed container and having a plurality of circumferentially equallyspaced radially extending internal compartments open at their outerends; a peripheral groove in said rotor midway between the sidesthereof; a magnetized bar positioned in each of said internalcompartments; a non-magnetic plug diametrically grooved and having aconcentric frusto-conical depression in its outer end for closing theopen end or" each of said internal compartments, the groove of said plugaligned with the peripheral groove in said rotor; a resilient member ineach of said compartments urging the magnetized bar therein outwardlyagainst said plug; a rotatable shaft supporting said rotor innon-rotatable relationship thereto; a power receiving means on one endof said shaft; an ejector adapted for slidably riding within saidperipheral groove in non-rotatable relationship to said rotor andpositioned adjacent plane perpendicular to the surface upon which can.planter is supported and including the axis of said shaft; a source ofrotary motion adapted for rotating said rotor such that its lowerperiphery is moving in a direction opposite the direction of movement ofsaid planter whereby each of said magnetized bars upon passing upwardlythrough said seed container will select and remove therefrom one seedand transport said seed until said seed is disassociated therefrom bysaid ejector; means for removing and returning by gravity to said seedcontainer all anemone seeds selected by each magnetized bar in excess ofone.

6. In means for individually depositing seeds havin paramagneticcharacteristics at predetermined equally spaced intervals, including aseed planter and means for moving said seed planter, theimprovement insaid: seed planter com-prising: a seed container; a. rotor having aplurality of circumferentially equally spaced and radially extendingtemporarily energizable; magnets therein, a portion of said-rotorextending into said seed container; 2; shaft-supporting" said rotor anda means for receiving rotary motion associated with said shaft; a sourceof electrical power connected to a plurality of electrical circuits eachcircuit including one of said magnets; means for alternately opening andclosing each of said circuits individually as said rotor is rotated bysaid shaft, whereby each of said magnets upon passing through said seedcontainer will select and remove therefrom one seed and thereafterrelease said seed upon opening of the circuit including that particularmagnet.

7. In means for individually depositing seeds having paramagneticcharacteristics at predetermined equally spaced intervals, including aseed planter and means for moving said seed planter, the improvement insaid seed planter comprising: a seed container; a rotor having aplurality of circumferentially equally spaced and radially extendingcompartments therein each having a restrictive wall at each of their innor and outer ends; a temporarily energizable magnet including a windingin each of said compartments; a contact member slidably passing throughthe wall at the inner end of said compartment; a resilient member ineach of said compartments for urging said magnets outwardly against thewall at the outer end of said compartment and said contact memberinwardly through the wall at the inner end of said compartment; ashoulder on said contact member for limiting movement of said contactmember inwardly; a rotatable shaft supporting said rotor; a collarhaving one portion of substantially reduced radius surrounding saidshaft in non contacting relationship thereto and contacting each of saidcontact members except in the area of reduced radius; means connectingone end of said magnet winding to said resilient member and furthermeans connecting the other end of said winding to structure electricallybonded to said shaft; a source of electrical energy connected to saidcollar and to said shaft and a plurality of circuits each including oneof said magnets electrically connecting said shaft and said collar, eachof said circuits being closed when said contact member of said circuitcontacts said collar and open when said contact member of said circuitdoes not contact said collar; each of said circuits being alternatelyand individually opened and closed as said rotor is rotated about saidcollar, whereby each of said magnets upon passing into said seedcontainer will be energized and will select and remove therefrom oneseed and thereafter release said seed upon opening of the circuitincluding that particular magnet.

8. In means for individually depositing seeds t4 tor extending partiallyinto: said seed container and having a plurality of circumferentially,equally'spaced', radially extending internal compartments open at theirouter ends; a peripheral groove in said rotor midway between the sidesthereof; a magnetic member positioned in each of said internalcompartments; a non-magnetic plug diametrically grooved and having aconcentric frusto-conical depression in its outer end for closing theopen end of each ofsaid internal compartments, the groove of said plugaligned with the peripheral groove in said rotor; a resilient member ineach of said compartments urging said magnetic member therein outwardlyagainst said plug; a rotatable shaft supporting said rotor innonrotatable relationship thereto; a power receiving means on one end ofsaid shaft; an ejector adapted for slidably riding within saidperipheral groove in nonrotatable relationship to said rotor andpositioned adjacent a plane perpendicular to the surface upon which saidplanter is supported and including the axis of said shaft; a source ofrotary motion adapted for rotating said rotor such that its lowerperiphery is moving in a direction opposite from the direction ofmovement of said planter whereby each of said magnetic members uponpassing upwardly through said seed container will select and removetherefrom one seed and transport said seed until said seed isdisassociated therefrom at said ejector; means for removing andreturning by gravity to said seed container all seeds in excess of oneselected by each magnetic member.

9. In means for individually depositing seeds having paramagneticcharacteristics at predetermined equally spaced intervals, including aseed planter and means for moving said seed 'lanter over a seed bed inone direction, the improvement in said seed planter comprising: ahousing; a seed container having a forwardly inclined bottom; adisc-shaped rotor extending partially into said seed container, theplane of said rotor parallel to direction of movement of said seedplanter; said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially, equallyspaced radially extending internal compartments open at their outerends; a peripheral groove in said rotor midway between the sidesthereof; a magnetic member positioned in each of said internalcompartments; a nonmagnetic plug diametrically grooved and having aconcentric frusto-conical depression in its outer end for closing theopen end of each of said internal compartments, the groove of said plugaligned with the peripheral groove in said rotor; a resilient member ineach of said compartments for urging said magnetic member thereinoutwardly against said plug; a rotatable shaft spaced from said seedcontainer in the direction of movement of said seed planter forsupporting said rotor in nonrotatable relationship thereto; a powerreceiving means on one end of said shaft; an ejector adapted forslidably riding within said peripheral groove in nonrotatablerelationship to said rotor and positioned adjacent a plane perpendicularto the surface upon which said planter is supported and including theaxis of said shaft; a source of rotary motion adapted for rotating saidrotor such that its periphery adjacent said seed bed is moving in adirection opposite from the direction of movement of said planter oversaid seed bed and said rotors periphery within said seed container ismoving upwardly whereby each of said magnetic members upon passingupwardly through said seed container will select and re- ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date MillerDec. 1, 1874 Number Number 10 Number Name Date Neumann Feb. 18, 1913Mathorst July 28, 1914 Johnson Feb. 25, 1936 Friesenhahn Mar. 25, 1941Cannon May 4, 1948 McLemore July 11, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateGreat Britain Dec. 7, 1923 Germany Oct. 9, 1914

